ZAMBIANS should never shun paying tribute to whoever is speaking out against any wrong doing.

Any good act by any person deserves praise from all while any negative conduct by anyone should receive positive criticism to avoid its recurrence.

In that vein, therefore, today our special tribute goes to all opposition political leaders and the general public for the dignified manner in which they have been observing the national mourning period in honour of late President Michael Sata.

Since October 29, 2014 when the President’s death was officially announced, the opposition political leaders have been leading the general citizenry in peaceful mourning of President Sata.

The political leaders from the MMD, UNIP, the United Party for National Development, National Restoration Party, Alliance for Better Zambia and other parties have publicly and otherwise been offering words of comfort to the First family and the entire nation.

They have set aside all their political differences, ambitions and aspirations to grieve the loss of the President and that has been encouraging to say the least.

It has been heartening to the nation to hear these leaders providing words of comfort to the people and this is as it ought to be.

This, albeit, is against the background of the forthcoming presidential by-elections which will be held in 90 days. But that should not divide the nation!
While speaking well of the opposition political leaders and cadres for exhibiting high sense of empathy and sympathy during this trying moment, we strongly regret the occurrences in the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) early this week.

What happened on Monday evening and Tuesday is unfortunate. The nation should, however, be comforted by the assurances coming from the party leadership indicating the resolve for all PF leaders to remain united in mourning Mr Sata, the founder of their political party.

Indeed, this week’s regrettable case in point, which we hope will never repeat itself during this period of mourning and beyond, goes to show how fragile Zambia’s peace is.

It shows how easily Zambia’s much-talked-about and cherished peace can easily break down right under everyone’s watch.

Hence there is need for all, especially leaders, to guard it jealously and work at constantly building it up.

As we have stated before since Wednesday last week, Zambians need to mourn Mr Sata in a dignified manner while fostering peace and unity.

We further hope that even after the mourning period, which officially ends on Tuesday next week, the ensuing campaign time will be characterised with continued peace and co-existence among politicians as well as citizens in general.

Since political parties are the key players in the process, which will follow, it is expected that politicians will have a bigger role in ensuring the sustenance of this peace.

There is need for them to continue respecting one another because, more often than not, the failure to do so by any player is the cause of political mayhems world-over.

Those who will be vying for highest position in the land should not show desperation like it’s either them or no one else!

Leadership is a gift from above, through the people who go to vote.

Once God, through the people, has picked a leader, no one can change that and everyone should merely rally behind such a chosen one.
Zambia should come out of the national mourning period and the subsequent presidential by-elections more united than ever.